Diabetes – Myths & Facts

 

Diabetes mellitus is a very common disease, one of the most widespread chronic health conditions in the world. At least 50% of all diabetics are unaware of their condition; and in some countries, this figure may reach 80%. Upto 11% of India’s urban population and 3% of the rural population above the age of 15 have diabetes. But, the good news is that upto 80% of type-2 diabetes cases can be prevented by lifestyle changes like adopting a healthy diet and increasing physical activity.

Diabetes – Myths & Facts

Diabetes – Myths & Facts
Diabetes is a contagious disease…Eating too much of sugar causes Diabetes…If you have Diabetes then you can never eat sugar…If you don’t have a family history of Diabetes then you will never get Diabetes…Insulin cures Diabetes…and the list goes on.
Can you differentiate between the myths and facts related to diabetes? If no, then you are the one amongst those diabetics who is lost in the huge list of these myths. So, get yourself acquainted with the diabetes facts so that the next time you can decide what is right for your health.

Some Common Myths & Facts…
Myth: Eating too much sugar causes diabetes.
Fact: Diabetes is not caused by eating too much sugar. Type 1 diabetes is caused by a destruction of the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, which is not related to sugar consumption. Type 2 diabetes results from the body’s inability to respond to insulin normally. The tendency to get type 2 diabetes is genetically inherited in most cases. With a guided exercise regime and following a planned diet, the average person can eat sweets in limited quantities.

Myth: Diabetes is a contagious disease.
Fact: Diabetes is not contagious. Diabetes is an endocrine disease and is caused due to problem with the amounts of insulin produced by the beta cells in the pancreas. Diabetes tends to have an inherited trait that runs in families.

Myth: If you are a diabetic then you can never eat sugar again.
Fact: The management of carbohydrate intake (not just sugar) is a critical part of diabetes management as diabetes affects the entire body. Diabetics can eat sweets, but sugary treats must be part of a careful meal plan along with a balanced medication and exercise regime. This will help you keep your blood sugar levels near normal, feel healthy and prevent long term complications.

Myth: Children with diabetes can never eat sweets.
Fact: Children having diabetes can eat a certain amount of sugary food as part of a balanced diet, but they need to control the total amount of carbohydrates intake, which includes sugary treats. As sweets provide no real nutritional value other than calories, they should be limited but not necessarily eliminated.

Myth: If you are good in maintaining your blood glucose levels and if you feel fine then you don’t have to go for check ups.
Fact: High or low blood sugar doesn’t always produce symptoms. Regular monitoring is the only way to know your blood sugar levels. Diabetes is always serious. You need to take proper medications along with appropriately planned diet and exercise. You may be good in maintaining it but that is no reason to escape regular health checkups.

Myth: Diabetics can feel whether their blood sugar levels are high or low.
Fact: There is no way for sure that will tell you your blood glucose levels except for testing them. A person with diabetes may feel physical symptoms (such as extreme thirst, weakness, or fatigue) if blood sugar levels are high or low. But some people may not show symptoms when their blood glucose is too high or low. And also as some of the symptoms of high and low blood glucose are similar, it may be difficult to know what these symptoms mean. The only way to be sure is to check your blood glucose levels.

Myth: High blood sugar levels are normal for some people and they aren't really a sign of diabetes.
Fact: High blood sugar levels are never normal. Certain conditions and certain medications may temporarily raise the blood sugar levels in people without diabetes. But people who have higher than normal blood sugar levels or sugar in their urine should be checked for diabetes by a doctor.

Myth: It’s possible to have just ‘slight’ diabetes.
Fact: There is nothing like ‘slight’ diabetes. Either you will have diabetes or you won’t. Any diabetic condition (type-1 or type-2) demands medical attention and careful lifestyle choices.

Myth: If you don’t have a family history of diabetes then you won’t get it.
Fact: Diabetes tends to be an inherited trait that runs in families. It increases the chances of some people of developing diabetes than the others. But plenty of people diagnosed with the disease don’t have a family history of diabetes. Weight and lifestyle are factors playing a major role in someone acquiring diabetes.

Myth: Diabetes is not easy to control.
Fact: Diabetes is metabolic disorder which is not curable. But it can be controlled when patients properly manage their meals, exercise, and take the right medications. With the proper guidance and education, patients can prevent and/or minimize many of the more serious complications that diabetes causes.

Myth: Insulin cures diabetes.
Fact: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder and diabetes is not a curable disease. Taking insulin helps in managing diabetes, but does not cure it. Insulin helps in utilizing the glucose in the body to be used for producing energy. This helps in keeping the blood sugar levels under control, but taking insulin doesn't correct the underlying cause.

Myth: All people with diabetes need to take insulin always.
Fact: All people with type 1 diabetes have to take insulin injections as their pancreases don’t produce insulin. Some, but not all, people with type 2 diabetes have to take insulin with or without pills to manage their blood sugar levels as advised by their physician.

Myth: Tablets or pills for diabetes are a form of insulin.
Fact: Diabetes medicines taken orally are not a form of insulin. Insulin is a protein that would be broken down or destroyed by the acids and digestive enzymes in the stomach and intestines if taken orally. Insulin is delivered via injections, inhalers or patches but not orally.

Myth: Taking more insulin means your diabetes is getting worse.
Fact: Many factors affect blood sugar levels like diet, exercise, and also, the time of the day. Therefore, insulin doses are required to be continuously adjusted to help a person keep his or her blood sugar levels in a healthy range. Your doctor will guide you with the right insulin dosages.

Myth: Children can outgrow diabetes.
Fact: Children never outgrow diabetes. In cases of type 1 diabetes, the cells of the pancreas that produce insulin are destroyed. Once they are destroyed, they will never produce insulin again. Kids with type 1 diabetes will always need to take insulin (until a cure is found). Although in kids with type 2 diabetes, an improvement in their blood sugar levels may be seen after puberty or with lifestyle adjustments, they will probably always have a tendency toward having high blood sugar levels, especially if they are physically inactive or gain too much weight.